TPG2022 Chapter I paragraph 1.9

Category: B. Statement of the arm's length principle | Tag: , , ,
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The arm’s length principle has also been found to work effectively in the vast majority of cases. For example, there are many cases involving the purchase and sale of commodities and the lending of money where an arm’s length price may readily be found in a comparable transaction undertaken by comparable independent enterprises under comparable circumstances. There are also many cases where a relevant comparison of transactions can be made at the level of financial indicators such as mark-up on costs, gross margin, or net profit indicators. Nevertheless, there are some significant cases in which the arm’s length principle is difficult and complicated to apply, for example, in MNE groups dealing in the integrated production of highly specialised goods, in unique intangibles, and/or in the provision of specialised services. Solutions exist to deal with such difficult cases, including the use of the transactional profit split method described in Chapter II, Part III of these Guidelines in those situations where it is the most appropriate method in the circumstances of the case.






Related Guidelines

  1. TPG2022 Chapter II paragraph 2.5However, it is not appropriate to apply a transactional profit method merely because data concerning uncontrolled transactions are difficult to obtain or incomplete in one or more respects. The same criteria listed in paragraph 2.2 that were used to reach the initial conclusion...
  2. TPG2022 Chapter II paragraph 2.121Another strength of the transactional profit split method is that it can offer flexibility by taking into account specific, possibly unique, facts and circumstances of the associated enterprises that may not be present in independent enterprises. Moreover, where there is a high degree...
  3. TPG2022 Chapter II paragraph 2.81Another important aspect of comparability is measurement consistency. The net profit indicators must be measured consistently between the associated enterprise and the independent enterprise. In addition, there may be differences in the treatment across enterprises of operating expenses and non-operating expenses affecting the...
  4. TPG2022 Chapter II paragraph 2.76The use of net profit indicators can potentially introduce a greater element of volatility into the determination of transfer prices for two reasons. First, net profit indicators can be influenced by some factors that do not have an effect (or have a less...
  5. TPG2022 Chapter II paragraph 2.6Methods that are based on profits can be accepted only insofar as they are compatible with Article 9 of the OECD Model Tax Convention, especially with regard to comparability. This is achieved by applying the methods in a manner that approximates arm’s length...
  6. TPG2022 Chapter II Annex II example 838. Company A is the parent company of M Group, an MNE group engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of electronic devices. Company A has the exclusive right to sell the devices in all territories. 39. Company A decides to subcontract the manufacturing...
  7. TPG2022 Chapter VI paragraph 6.204It will often be the case that, notwithstanding the use of intangibles by one or both parties to a controlled sale of goods or provision of services, reliable comparables can be identified. Depending on the specific facts, any of the five OECD transfer...
  8. TPG2022 Chapter II paragraph 2.120The transactional profit split method can also provide a solution for highly integrated operations in cases for which a one-sided method would not be appropriate. See Section C.2.2.2, below....
  1. EU Report on Improving the Functioning of the Arbitration Convention (2015)In April 2015 the Forum agreed on a Report on Improving the Functioning of the Arbitration Convention including a revised Code of Conduct for the effective implementation of the Arbitration Convention. The report and the revised Code of Conduct are the result of...
  2. EU JTPF, March 2017, Report on the Use of Comparables in the EUIn March 2017 the JTPF agreed the Report on the Use of Comparables in the EU. The report establishes best practices and pragmatic solutions by issuing various recommendations for both taxpayers and tax administrations in the EU and aims at increasing in practice...

Related Case Law

  1. Japan vs “Banana Corp”, April 2009, Tokyo District CourtThe “Banana Group” is based in Ecuador and is engaged in the business of exporting Ecuadorian bananas. The Japanese distributor was part of the Banana Group. An Ecuadorian group company purchases bananas produced on plantations in Ecuador, exports and sells them to another...
  2. India vs Olympus Medical Systems India Pvt. Ltd., April 2022, Income Tax Appellate Tribunal – New Delhi, Case No 838/DEL/2021Olympus Medical Systems India is a subsidiary of Olympus Corp and engaged in the import, sale and maintenance of medical equipment in India. For FY 2012 and 2013 the company reported losses. An transfer pricing audit was initiated by the tax authorities and...
  3. Germany vs “Spedition Gmbh”, October 2012, Federal Tax Court 11.10.2012, I R 75/11Spedition Gmbh entered a written agreement – at year-end – to pay management fees to its Dutch parent for services received during the year. The legal question was the relationship between arm’s-length principle as included in double tax treaties and the norms for...
  4. Hungary vs “Electronic components Manufacturing KtF”, June 2023, Supreme Court, Case No Kfv.V.35.415/2022/7“Electric Component Manufacturing KtF” is a Hungarian subsidiary of a global group that distributes electronic components in more than 150 countries worldwide. The tax authorities had conducted a comprehensive tax audit of the Hungarian company for the period from 1 October 2016 to...